Dead Woman's Pass

What is Dead Woman's Pass?

Dead Woman's Pass — Warmiwañusqa or Warmi Wañusqa in Quechua (also Warmiwanusca / Abra Warmiwanusca; Spanish Paso de la Mujer Muerta) — is the highest point on the classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Our on-trail Garmin GPSMAP 62 track places the crest at about 13,800 ft (4,206 m). Operator and guidebook figures commonly list ~4,215 m (about 13,828–13,829 ft). Treat that spread as normal: units, datums, and exact saddle points differ. On this site we lead with our logged GPS figure and note the published range.

In the standard itinerary this is the climax of Day 2: a long climb from Camp 1 at Wayllabamba through cloud forest into alpine grassland, then a steep descent toward Camp 2 in the Pakaymayu valley.

How the pass got its name

Two explanations circulate among guides and trekkers:

• Silhouette theory (most common): From below, the ridgeline can look like a woman lying on her back — head, chest, and feet formed by the mountains.
• Literal / legendary readings: Some tellings connect the Quechua name (“dead woman”) to stories of hardship at altitude. Treat these as oral tradition unless a primary historical source is cited.

What is not in dispute is the pass’s reputation: for many hikers it is the hardest single effort of the trek.

Why Day 2 feels so hard

From Wayllabamba (or alternate high camps such as Ayapata on some itineraries) you gain on the order of 1,000+ vertical meters in thin air — often summarized as roughly 3,000–4,000 feet of climbing depending on exact camp pairing. Day 2 is widely called the hardest day of the classic trek for that reason.

• Distance often on the order of ~11 km / ~7 miles (camp-dependent; do not treat any single blog number as universal)
• Time on trail commonly 6–7+ hours with breaks
• Ascent to the saddle often 4–5+ hours from the morning camp
• After the crest: steep descent toward Pacaymayo / Pakaymayu camp near ~3,600 m

Above the treeline the environment shifts to open tundra: sun, wind, and cold can hit hard even when Cusco felt mild. Porters and cooks usually move faster; hikers should plan a steady pace rather than racing the group.

Altitude: what to expect

At ~4,200 m, available oxygen is substantially lower than at sea level (often summarized as roughly 40% less O₂ pressure than sea level — a rule of thumb, not a personal medical measurement). Cusco itself sits near 3,400 m; the pass is still a step higher than the city.

• Spend 2–3 nights acclimatizing in the Sacred Valley / Cusco before Day 1 when you can.
• Go slower than your ego wants on the final push to the saddle.
• Drink water, eat snacks, and tell your guide early if you have severe headache, confusion, or breathlessness at rest.
• Medication such as acetazolamide is a personal medical decision — discuss with a clinician before the trip.

At the top — and the descent

The saddle is exposed. On a clear day you get wide Andean views; in cloud you may only see the next cairn. There is rarely a long picnic at the crest — wind and schedule push groups over and down.

The descent toward Pakaymayu (Camp 2) is steep stone steps that punish quads and knees. Trekking poles help. Camp 2 sits much lower (our data: about 11,781 ft / 3,590 m), which often feels like a relief after the pass even though you are still high.

Notes on sources

Elevation and Day 2 logistics are cross-checked against common trek references and our Garmin track. Published crest heights often cluster near 4,215 m; our page leads with the site GPS high point (~13,800 ft / 4,206 m). Naming folklore is presented as guide tradition, not archival proof.

Explore it in the 3D tour

The flyover makes the scale obvious: the long climb from Camp 1, the narrow crest, and the drop into Pakaymayu. Use it to preview Day 2 before you book — or to relive the pass afterward.

Open Dead Woman's Pass in the 3D tour →